Chabges h



May 9, 1933. c. H, MASLAND, 20 1,907,429

METHOD or" AGEiNG OR STEAMING PRINTED TEXT-ILE FABRICS Filed y 27, 1950i6 a l F M mi 12 10 HH l ll I 5! l l II I 1 i 1 1 I T T\ Charles HMuslcmd 2" INVENTOR MGUG L ATTORNEY v Patented May 9, 1933' m H.MASLAND, 2D, 01'. CARES LE, PENNSYLVANIA.

METEUD 0F AGG- 0R STEAMING PRINTED TEXTILE a Fill'i- Application filedmay 2?, 1930. Serial No. 455,997.

My invention relates to an improved meth= od of ageing or steamingprinted textile tabrics and embodies certain phases or steps ca pable ofuse in the chemical treatment of substances generally.

in present commercial practice, the usual 1 1 n steps in the ageing orsteaming or printedfabrics are the following in the sequence stated (1)printing otthefabric(2) drying the printed fabric to a greater or lessdegree depending on the material being printed and the type of dyestufiused; (3) passmg the fabric, either continuously or in batches, throughthe steamer or ager, this steaming and distinct from the first twosteps; (d) drying the aged fabric in a dryer or on a tenter frame. 7 Agreater tinctorial value may be obtained w from the dyestufis used, astep in the process may be eliminated and the entire series of steps maybe placed in range or close juxta position if the fabric be steamed oraged imfl mediately alter the printing step in such 2* manner that theageing or steaming may be efiected as rapidly as the printing can bedone by the print machine.

Theusual steaming or ageing procedure re- 9 quires too great an amountof time to permit of its being placed in series with the rint machine;the usual steamer or ager o sufficient ca acity for that purpose wouldbe high in rst cost, complicated mechanically and would contain, at anygiven time in the course of the process, too much fabric which would beliable to spoilage due to a stoppage of the print machine or of anyother part of the mechanism in the range.

or ageing step constituting a process separate.

The principal object of my invention is to In steamers or agers of thecharacter now employed, either superheated or saturated steam isadmitted to the chamber containing the fabric, air being admitted withthe steam in some cases, and being excluded in others W where a reducingaction is sought. Accord ing to my improved method of ageing "orsteaming fabrics, I not only admit steam to the ageingchamber but alsowater in such manner that the water is transformed into a mist whichsupersaturates the atmos, here and comes into contact with the fabric inthe chamber, a j e v The mist wets' the fabric rapidly and also ,1rapidly raises its heat conductivity, d (My therefore the temperature ofthe fabric may be raised rapidly by the heat content of the steam andwater mist to the point at which the reaction between the chemicals, i.e., the dyestuffs on the fabric andthe fabric itself takes place. It isquite possible that the increase in heat conductivity of the fabric isdue, in large'part, to the penetration by the steam and mist of the filmof air ad hering to the surface of the fabric For the purpose ofobtaining certain desired results or efiects on the fabric, 1 mayintroduce chemical reagents in gas or mist form into the chambercoincidently with the water mist and steam if elevated tempera tures aresought. As examples of chemicals which may be used, ll may mentionchlorine for purposes of oxidation or chlorination and S0 for reduction,etc. That phase of my method, just described, by which the water 8g mistis used as a vehicle for the introduction of a chemical into a chamberis not limited in its application to the ageing of fabrics but is ofgeneral application no. the chemical treatment of a variety ofsubstances,

The mist to be introduced into the ageing chamber may be formed by anysuitable means and in any well known manner; for example, the water mabe atomized and sprayed into the chain r by steam, com.-

pressed air or compressed gas spray nozzles, or by mechanical pressureatomizers or centrifugal atomizers. Another manner of forming the mistis to cool in a part or in the entire chamber atmosphere saturated at ahigher temperature and continuously fed to the chamber.

The form of mist formin apparatus varies with the results desired. %orfabrics easily water spotted the mist must be finer than is necessaryfor coarser fabrics and in some cases it is desirable to use heatedrollers as the support for the fabric so that water will not condense onthe rollers.

One form of apparatus which may advantageously be used in the practiceof my improved method is illustrated in the accompanying drawing inwhich Fig. 1 is a top plan new of a portion of the. ageing chamber andappurtenant parts and Fig. 2 is an end elevation with parts in section.

Referring to the drawing, 10 denotes the ageing chamber to which steamis admitted through the nozzles 11. Mounted in the chamber is one or aplurality of rol1s.12 for the steam atmosphere in quantities greaterthan the steam will carry at any given prethe ageing action beforeflushing or bleeding of the colors in the fabric occurs. L

In testimon whereof I afiix m si ature.

CHA LES H. MASLADH2NIL supporting the fabric 13 which has come from ythe print machine (not shown). Extending alongside the chamber 10 atopposite sides thereof are water troughs 14 with which communicatesspray nozzles 15 discharging into, the chamber 10. These spray nozzleshave-connection with a compressed air line 16. Each nozzle may have theusual control valve 17. Each air line-may also be provided "with a usualform of control valve 18.

It will be understood that but a rather simple form of apparatus hasbeen shown and only such parts thereof as are necessary to anunderstanding of the operation of the method. As the fabric enters thechamber 10 steam is admitted thereto through the nozzles 11 and watermist through the nozzles 15.

' Should rapidity of ageing action not be desired as where the range isstopped, it is simply necessary to close the valves 17 and stop issuanceof mist into the chamber 10.

I claim:

1. In the method of ageing printed fabrics, the ste s which compriseintroducing the rinted abric into a closed chamber and sub1ecting ittherein to the action of an atmosphere of steam charged with a greaterquantity of moisture than the steam will carry at any 'ven prevailingtemperature and pressure w ereby liquid water in finely divided statewill be precipitated from the steam on the fabric immediately upon theentrance of the fabric into the chamber and discontinuing the ageingaction before flushing or bleeding of the colors in the fabric occurs.

2. In the method of ageing printed fabthe fabric therein, introducingwater into

